Apparatus for cooling internal combustion engines



J y 1931- H. HARTENSTEIN 1,313,667

APPARATUS FOR QOOLING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 18, 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Jsq 'f' C y 7, 1931- H. L. HARTENSTEIN' APPARATUS FORCOOLING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES ile 001;- 18. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3QNQN 67m ZZZ/m Patented July 7, 1 931 A Ens-MA L. elim nate or thinner);IiiiING-ES AI I-AIEKEn's' mes fioIliiiei'ifmrinnen COMBUSTION ENGINESLethe seerenginesnsed 'for pmilefiln meter d enyelncles"; t is otviqnslyimpesslew to"eo'o1 the 'engine ny mea ns ef Water 'eb iin'dfrem asonree"etitsrdeefithe vehicle, and "when use cl fortlris purpose, l thepractice is -tecool the engines by? means ofi'it iqrfantity of liquid"c'znried'i by the vehiclelwvhlch isjr'ecirculated through "the jaclrets ofthe engine cylinders 'e'nd is Ynaint'eihedht a relati ely lowtenip'emtn-re by :cl'rculeting P it" through =21 {apparatus1nenntecl"on'=-the tehicle, zisimlly a newer v hibhhas-'suitahlemirculilting pineconnecti'ons Withthe f jacltts of 30the"enginefcyiiners.

' As is genertilly' well-known,"elsoywhere'ivateri's tlre'eodies-medianames it is in a very 'lerg'e'percentge' of "czises tllere isdenget ef its freezing-in severe weiithet in cdse the rengrille "is"prmltted to'stand for aiiy considerable length of time, thus preventing'circrrlet-innbl" th weanling lnedinnrandin rnan-yrez'fses mun-m;- inrupture of the 'radiator"cells or tnbes thus re uiringithatthey'bereplaced.

:Tl1is *ol5jectiel1ehle feature is usrrally renetlierl by mixing Withthe: cooling rheditnn a quantity? of 'wlrat -'is-: rs1-felly known. anclreferrecl'sto as 'zin'-'*anti-'freezing" mixture or selntinh, "whichhasthemharactefistic of impe-rtiiig' t'o th 'e-entirehe'dy ofithcoolingmedium a freezing; point 1n aterially-zlower t-han that of water orother coolingjnedi-um l'ised.

lhe snlntiongenerally n'sedco'nsist'sof denzitura'l alcohol wzitr, the{fireportiens of which vary with "the temfierziture' agai-nst There-=a1"e, however; many elifierent anti freezing'nlifitures; thefreezingzpo'ints vary ing tn a greziter or less eXten'ttancl-therelative 'qnzlntlties' ef "waterand" sblntion toziemsed will, of course;very *hcc'ordin gly. --."Bhecorrect prepbrtiens =f0r 'iiferent freezingmixtures is; however; "usniilly 'sp ecified in avail able formuleenol;neetl not be here considereilin-clet'ail. 4

'Hiile: a-nti freezing' mixtures are ofasgreat :valuei in; the:respectthet'they prevent new: fingio he cooling niedi-1-1m-, t1i1ey'alse po'ssess cert-en l rherent'objectionablecharacteristics, aprincipal one of Whiclrfsthattheyitre'more volatile than the "i'fifiiwith which they fire coinnronly -r'i'sech and; therefore; appreciably,EQCl'llCB' the boiling: pint ofthe cooling-me- "It-is recognizecl thatinternal combustion engines; operate: meet efiicientlyat;tenrper'atnresof from-170 to -1-80-degrees R, r whichisniateri-allyj'below the boiling point of Wiltlil but appreciably abovethat of the antifreezingso'lutim. The same is also-true of otheranti-frfeezing "soli'itions centainingw eleehol'. It thereforefol-lowsthfit; even an efilcient operatin'g temperaturesfthe'use ofcooling-mediet containing anti-freezingolutionwvillresultin e :Itapidconversion of the alcoholic cmltntyof theyc oolin-g hretlia-fi-ntlfllsoof-e. relatively small portion of therwaterinto-yizapor; and steam;which pass out "through the overfl'r'ivi pine fancl are lost, and alsovery frequently the boiling or ebullition isso Violent thetmuch; oi 'theliquid Solution itselfis blown out oft theove'l'fio'wi pipe. Obvilensl-ythis condition will be aggmmted: athigher temperatures, ySuch-losses:lmtnrelly. result 1 inrap-idlyf diminishing both thequantity and quality of the cooling; i'nefidinnrto such anextent thatitsifreezing point is correspondingly raised and -itscoolingbzvpacityiscletzrea'secl to the extent of-such losses, which inust berep-lenishedby additional-solution in order to maintain both itsanti-freezing and cooling qualities at the proper standard, and for thereplenishment of such losses it is customary to add a mixture containingthree parts of alcohol and one part of water; and if the properproportion of anti-freezing solution is not restored ormaintained, thiswould tend to cause freezing of the radiator-if there is too littleofthe anti-freezing solution-or overheating and improper operation ofthe engine if there is too much of the anti-freezing solution.

The object of the present invention is to provide means, in associationwith the usual radiators of internal combustion engines used forpropelling motor driven vehicles, constructed and arranged to preventloss of the ingredients of cooling media used to prevent overheating ofinternal combustion engines, thereby preventing deterioration of suchcooling media, with its attendant injurious efiects; and also to preventthe attendant large economic loss resulting therefrom.

Stated generally, I attain the objects of the invention by condensingmeans installed so as to communicate with what may be designated thehigh temperature side of the cocling system of the engine, that isbetween the discharge from the jackets of the engine cylinders,constructed and arranged to receive vaporized cooling medium generatedin the jackets as it passes to the radiator, and to condense practicallyall of the vaporized cooling medium and to return it to the coolingsystem in liquid form.

In what I now consider to be the preferable embodiment of my invention,the improved condenser consists of a coil made of suitable thin metaltubing, preferably copper, supported upon a suitable base portion whichforms a cap or closure for the filling opening of the radiator, thelower end of said body portion being screw-threaded to engage the same.Preferably, also, said coil comprises a return section which leads backinto the radiator in register with and which ter minates in closeproximity to the end of the overflow pipe of the radiator (not shown)forming, in effect, a closure or liquid seal therefor which will preventvaporized cooling medium from entering the same and thus running towaste.

To render the condenser more sightly in appearance and also to protectthe coil from damage or breakage by being struck, the condenser alsopreferably' comprises a casing which encloses said coil, said casingpreferably being skeletoned or cut out to permit free access of the airto the coil.

The invention also comprises the various other features and details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which this invention is fullyillustrated,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating apparatus for coolinginternal combustion engines embodyin this invention and improvements,exemplifying the same as applied in use for cooling the cylinders of anengine of an automobile or other motor driven vehicle.

Figure 2 is a front View of a condenser embodying this invention andimprovements, shown as applied in use to the radiator of a motor drivenvehicle.

Figure 3 is a view substantially similar to Fig. 2, on an enlargedscale, parts thereof being shown in section on the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Figure l is a top plan view of the coil showing the casing in plansection on the line 4ll of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is an elevation showing another form of condenser.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of Fig. 6. 1

Figure 8 is a sectional View on line 8-8, Fig. 6. t

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another modification.

Figure 10 is a view partly in side elevation, partly in section ofanother form of the invention.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 of still another form of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings I have, for purposes of clear and definiteillustration, shown a cooling apparatus embodying my invention andimprovements as applied in use for cooling the cylinders of internalcombustion engines used for propelling an automobile or other motordriven vehicle.

Describing the invention with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 5 ofthe drawings, A, Fig. 1, indicates, diagrammatically, the engine of amotor vehicle, B, the radiator for cooling the water which circulatesthrough the jackets of the. engine cylinders, a, a pipes which connectthe extreme cylinder jackets with the upper and lower ends of theradiator B, and C indicates a condenser embodying this invention andimprovements supported in the filling opening of the radiator whcihcommunicates with the vapor space therein.

Excepting as regards the condenser C, all of tie foregoing parts may beof any usual or approved construction.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the condenser Cconsists essentially of a coil 0 made of tubing which is a goodconductor of heat, preferably copper, supported with the open lower endof the tube forming said coil in communication with the vapor space inthe upper part of the radiator B, and which condenser projects above theradiator in position to be exposed to air currents produced either bythe wind or by movement of the vehicle.

As shown, the coil is supported'by a base portion,designated' as a whole0, said base portion comprising a plate 1 formed through which is a hole2, in which the lower end of the tube forming thecoil c issecured.The'lower end ofthe basepo'rtion c is threaded to engageinthefillingopening 3-0f the radiatorforniedby the 'thilnble 4 on saidradiator.

For reasons'p'resently apparent, means are provided-for adjusting thecondenser C axially. As shown, this is effected 'by forming the baseportion 0 in two parts, consisting of the plate l and' abushi'ng 5, thelower end of s'aidbushing 'b'eing screw-threaded di rectlyinto'the'filling opening 3 and the lower end of the plate 1 terminatingin a circular projection 6 fitted to turn in a hole 6 formed in theupper end of the bushing 5, the plate 1 and bushing being connected byanut 7 threaded to the lower end of the circular projection 6 on saidplate 1 and which is adapted to'bear against an interior shoulder 8 onthe bushing 5. In practice, the nut 7 is adjusted so that the plate 1 isheld in position frictionally,thus permitting the coil 0 and partsdirectly associated therewith to beturned into desired-position. A tightjoint can be formed between the parts of said base portion by'meansofapaclring gasket 9 inserted between 'thenut 7 and the shoulder 8.

The front and back sides of the coil 0 may be flat, thus-exposing agreater radiating surface to air currents traversing the condenserthanwould otherwise be the case, and it is to provide for adjustingsaidcondenser with a flat side in front that the described provision foraxial adjustment of the condenser is provided for.

Toprotect the coil 0 from injury, a casing 0 may beprovided to enclosethe coil, the sides of said casing being skeletoned to permit freeaccess of the air to the coil. As

' shown,said casing 0 may be provided'on all portion 0' of thecondenser, ispref-erably recessed'as at 12 to reducethe'weightthereof.

With the described construction, it is obvious that steam or vapor fromthe cooling medium will rise into the Vapor space of the radiator andwill pass thence upwardly into the coil 0, where it willbecondensed, thepitch of the coil being such that all-condensation-therein will drain bygravity back into the radiator. Toprevent unvaporized liquid particlesfrom being blown upwardly into the coil 0-, as might occur if the coolingama dium wereheatedto a temperature considerably in excess of itsboilingpoint, which would cause violent ebullition thereof, a baf fie 13maybe provi'dedwithin "the recess To permit'steam and other li 'htvaporsto rise freely into the coil 0, said 'c'oil'preferably comprisesapipe sectionlt which'is reversely bent at the' top of' thecoil andextends down.- wardly in'the spacedefined bythe'convolutions of the@011- and through an opening formed'in the platel of the baseportion,the lower end of the pipe preferablyregistering with the overflow pipe15 of the radiator.

Preferably, also, the lower end of said'pipe section 14: is bent asshown? at 16 to form a trap in' which condensation-will collect, thussealing the lower end of said pipe-soth'at, ex cepting at veryexcessivetemperaturesysteam and vapor will notflow'through the coil topass to waste throng-lithe overflow pipe15.

Preferably, also, the open lower end of the pipe section 14extends'intosuch close-proaimity to the openupper'end of theov'erfiowpipe 15 that said overflow pipe'willformin effect a continuation ofsaid-pipesecti'on 14, thus preventing steam and vapors from "enteringsaid overflowpipe directly from the vapor space and beinglost.

This invention will also. prevent loss of anti-freezing solution bycondensingdt and returning the condensation to the body ofcoolinginedium, thus maintaining a cooling medium having a substantiallyconstant boiling point and also preventing'to a great extent the loss ofanti-freezingsolution;

Obviouslythe condenser and casing may be of any desired shape orconfiguration.

In order to conveniently supplycoolingsolution to the radiator andcommunicating chambers, the casingmay be hinged to the base plate,suitable means being'providedfor securing the hinged section ofthecondenser in operative position. 7 I

Such a construction is shown in Figs. 6'to :8, inclusive, in which Bindicates'the radiator,

4 theiill opening thereof, C the'condenser,

as a whole, 0 the base portionxof the condenser,- comprising a-l)L1Sh1ng' 5 having screwthreaded engagement witlithe fill opening 3,

and aplate ,1 hingedthereto at 17, '0 a'coil,

shown as circular inform, the-lower end of which issecured in the plate1, 0 the casing which encloses the coil '0, provided with slots 10'permitting access of air currents to the coil, "and. 14 thereturn'section of'the coil eX- tending from the upper end thereofdownwardly through the plate 1 into register with the overflow pipe ofthe radiator, not shown.

A spring catch 18 secured to the plate 1 engages a shoulder 19 on thebushing 5', to hold the casing in position.

As a further modification of this invention, the return pipe maycomprise two branches, one of which is preferably arranged insubstantial alignment with the upper section thereof and extendssomewhat below the level of the cooling medium in the radiator, andhaving the lower end thereof contracted, the relation being such thatany liquid which may find its way into said return pipe will drain bygravity into the radiator, while, due to the small size of itscontracted lower end, very little liquid will be forced into the same byany sudden pressure impulses in the radiator. The other branch orsection of said return pipe is off-set as at 14 from the com mon uppersection thereof and is connected laterally into the same, its lower endbe ng arranged in register with the overflow pipe 15 of the radiator andextendinginto close proximity to the open upper end of said overflowpipe, so that said overflow pipe will form in effect a continuation orextension of said branch return pipe, thus preventing excessivepressures from being generated in the radiator and its connections, dueto overheating and violet ebullition of the cooling medium, which wouldtend to cause flooding of the condenser and possible rupture and otherpossible damage to the radiator. Obviously,

,with the construction described, any excess pressure in the radiatorwill at once be relieved by discharge of a portion of the contents ofthe radiatorin the form of steam or cooling medium heated to anexcessively high temperaturethrough the condenser to the overflow pipeof the radiator, thereby preventing damage to the radiator and all otherobjectionable results, excepting the loss of cooling medium, which canreadily be replenished.

This modification is shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, in which Cindicates the condenser as a whole, 0 the base portion thereof,comprising the plate 1 and bushing 5 se cured in the fill opening 3 ofthe radiator, c the coil, the lower end of which is secured in the plate1 c the skeletoned casing which encloses the coil, and 1& the returnsection of the coil, which, comprises two branches 1& and 14:, of whichthe branch 1& is arranged substantially in line with the common uppersection of said return pipe and extends downwards through the plate 1below the designed liquid level in the radiator, the lower end of whichbranch is contracted, as shown at 20 the relation being such that liquidwill drain by gravity from the common upper section of said return pipedirectly into the radiator. The branch 14 is off-set from the commonupper section of said return pipe and extends downwards through theplate 1 with its lower end in register with the open upper end of theoverflow pipe 15 of the radiator and into such close proximity theretothat it will form, in effect, a closure therefor adapted to preventcooling medium from passing directly from the radiator into the overflowpipe and thus to waste.

The apparatus thus far has been described as a unit complete in itself,including a base portion adapted to form ,a closure for the fillingopening of the radiator and to replace the usual radiator cap. However,the device may be constructed to form an attachment readily adapted tobe attached to the usual radiator cap. Such a construction isillustrated in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings in which the usual fillcap 20 is employed with the fill opening a. This cap is provided with anopening 21 which is now usually employed for the attachment of a meteror some ornament, which is adapted to be removed so that the same cap 20may be employed in connection with this invention.

In Figure 10 the coil 22 is connected by its extremities 23 and 24: to asupporting base 25, the latter beingprovided with a chamber 26 thereinwith which the ends of the coil have communication. The base 25 isprovided with a tubular depending portion 27 which is exteriorly screwthreaded as at 28 and is adapted to be passed through the opening 21 inthe cap 20 to project therebeyond.

Nuts 29 are threaded upon the tubular proj ection 27 soas to clamp orsecure the base 25 to the cap 20. j

If desired a gasket or suitable packing 30 may be interposed between thenuts and the inner face of the cap 20 so as to provide a fluid tightjoint and thereby prevent the escape of vapor through the cap 20 to theatmosphere.

The inlet end 23 of the coil 22 is preferably arranged in alignment withthe opening in the tubular portion 27 so that the vapors from theradiator will pass into the coil, and the outlet 24 of the return pipe31 of the coil is preferably arranged out of alignment with the openingin the projection 27, a bafiie plate 32 being preferably provided so asto prevent the vapor from passing directly into the pipe 31.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig ure 11 the ends 33 and-3at ofthe coil35 project into a hollow plug like device-36, the latter beinpreferably provided with a head 37, which rests against the outer faceof the cap 20. The body portion of the plug proj ects through theopening 21 in the cap and nuts 38 are screwed upon the plug to cooperatewith the head 37 to clamp the plug to the cap 20. A suitable packing orgasket 39 may be provided to form a fluid tight joint.

The extremity 40 of the end 34 of the coil is preferably contracted soas to insure the entrance of a greater portion of the vapor into the end33 of the coil 35.

I Vith the forms of the invention shown in Figures 10 and 11 it will bemanifest that by removing the ornament or meter which is now employed indevices of this character the present invention maybe readily appliedand may as readily be removed when desired.

Obviously a suitable casing (not shown) may be provided, if desired, forprotecting the coil, and the coil may be of any desired length anddiameter.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

I/Vhat is claimed as new is 1. In cooling apparatus for internalcombustion engines embodying a radiator having a fill opening and avapor space with which the condenser communicates in the upper end ofthe radiator, a condenser comprising a base portion adapted to beremovably secured in the said fill opening and forming a closuretherefor, and a coilsecured in said base with its attached end incommunication with said vapor space, the pitch of said coil being suchthat condensation will drain therefrom into said radiator, said coilcomprising an open ended return section which communicates with the endof the coil proper remote from the base portion of the condenser, saidreturn section being reversely bent and extending through an opening insaid base portion in register with the overflow pipe of the radiator.

2. In cooling apparatus for internal combustion engines embodying aradiator having a fill opening and a vapor space with which thecondenser communicates in the upper end of the radiator, a condensercomprising a base portion adapted to be removably secured in the fillopening and forming a closure therefor, and a coil secured in said basewith its attached end in communication with said vapor space, the pitchof said coil being such that condensation will drain therefrom into saidradiator, said coil comprising an open ended return section whichcommunicates with the end of the coil proper remote from latter willform practically a continuation of the return section of said coil.

3. In cooling apparatus for internal combustion engines embodying aradiator having a fill opening and a vapor space with which thecondenser communicates in the upper end of the radiator, a condensercomprising a base portion adapted to be removably secured in the fillopening toform a closure therefor, and a coil secured in said base withits attached end in communication with said vapor space, the pitch ofsaid coil being such that condensation will drain therefrom into saidradiator, said coil comprising an open ended return section whichcommunicates with the end of the coil proper remote from the baseportion of the condenser, said return section extending through anopening in said base portion and being reversely bent to form a sealadapted to prevent vapors from entering it from the said vapor space.

In testimony whereof I have signed m name to this specification on this30th day of September, A. D. 1926.

HERMAN L. HARTENSTEIN.

the base portion of the condenser, said return

